Decree No. 151/SL On Punishing Landlords Who Violate the Law During and at Places Where the Masses Are Mobilized to Implement Land Policies

DECREE

OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

DECREE NO. 151/SL ON APRIL 12, 1953

THE PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

CONSIDERING THE CURRENT NEEDS,

PURSUANT TO THE RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY,

ISSUES THE DECREE:

Article 1

THIS DECREE REGULATES THE PUNISHMENT OF LANDLORDS WHO VIOLATE THE LAW WHILE AND IN AREAS WHERE THE POPULATION IS BEING MOBILIZED TO IMPLEMENT THE LAND POLICY, WITH THE AIM OF PROTECTING THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE, PROHIBITING ANY DESTRUCTIVE ACTIONS BY LAWLESS LANDLORDS, MAINTAINING REVOLUTIONARY ORDER, AND STRENGTHENING THE UNITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE RESISTANCE STRUGGLE.

Article 2

A LANDLORD WHO OPPOSES THE LAND POLICY: USING ILLEGAL MEANS TO FORCE THE PAYMENT OF RENT OR OLD DEBTS, RECLAIMING LAND AND HOUSES, DISMISSING WORKERS, ETC., CAUSING DAMAGE TO PEASANTS SHALL BE WARNED OR SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT FOR UP TO ONE YEAR AND MUST COMPENSATE THE PEASANTS FOR THEIR LOSSES.

Article 3

IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE AND SETTLE DISPUTES OVER LAND CORRECTLY DURING THE MOBILIZATION OF THE PEASANT POPULATION, LANDLORDS MAY NOT DISPERSE THEIR ASSETS, WEALTH, AND LAND THROUGH MEANS SUCH AS LOANING, SELLING, GIVING, DIVIDING PROPERTY, OR OTHER SECRET METHODS.

A LANDLORD WHO VIOLATES THIS RULE SHALL BE SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT FROM THREE MONTHS TO ONE YEAR AND MUST COMPENSATE THE PEASANTS FOR THEIR LOSSES.

A LANDLORD WHO DISPERSES LAND TO ESCAPE INTO ENEMY TERRITORY SHALL BE SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT FROM ONE TO FIVE YEARS, AND THE DISPERSED LAND AND PART OR ALL OF THE ASSETS SHALL BE CONFISCATED.

Article 4

A LANDLORD WHO DESTROYS HIS OWN PROPERTY SUCH AS: KILLING OR INJURING ANIMALS, DESTROYING GRAIN, UTENSILS, AGRICULTURAL TOOLS, TREES, CROPS, LAND, IRRIGATION WORKS, ETC., TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO PEASANTS AND HARM PRODUCTION SHALL BE SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT FROM ONE TO FIVE YEARS, MUST COMPENSATE THE PEASANTS FOR THEIR LOSSES, AND SHALL HAVE PART OR ALL OF THEIR ASSETS CONFISCATED.

Article 5

A LANDLORD WHO COMMITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CRIMES:

1- SPREADING FALSE INFORMATION TO CREATE PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LAW;

2- USING METHODS TO INCITE CONFLICT AMONG PEASANTS, HARMING THE UNITY OF THE PEOPLE;

3- USING MONEY OR OTHER METHODS TO BRIBE, INTIMIDATE OFFICIALS AND THE PEOPLE, ENTERING GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS, PEASANT ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE INTENTION OF UNDERMINING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAND POLICY;

4- USING ANY TRICKERY OR INTIMIDATION TO STEAL BACK GRAIN, ASSETS, OR LAND OBTAINED THROUGH STRUGGLE;

SHALL BE SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT FROM THREE TO TEN YEARS, MUST COMPENSATE THE PEASANTS FOR THEIR LOSSES, AND SHALL HAVE PART OR ALL OF THEIR ASSETS CONFISCATED.

Article 6

A LANDLORD WHO COMMITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CRIMES:

1- COLLABORATING WITH IMPERIALISM, PUPPET GOVERNMENTS, SPY NETWORKS, FORMING OR LEADING REACTIONARY ORGANIZATIONS OR PARTIES TO ATTACK THE GOVERNMENT, UNDERMINE THE RESISTANCE STRUGGLE, HARM THE PEOPLE, KILL PEASANTS, OFFICIALS, AND EMPLOYEES;

2- COLLABORATING WITH IMPERIALISM, PUPPET GOVERNMENTS, FORMING OR LEADING ARMED GROUPS TO ENGAGE IN VIOLENCE;

3- INJURING, KILLING, OR ASSASSINATING PEASANTS, OFFICIALS, AND EMPLOYEES;

4- BURNING DOWN HOUSES, STOREHOUSES, GRAIN, CROPS, IRRIGATION WORKS;

5- INCITING OR LEADING A GROUP TO STAGE A REBELLION;

SHALL BE SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT FROM TEN YEARS TO LIFE, OR EXECUTION, MUST COMPENSATE THE PEASANTS FOR THEIR LOSSES, AND SHALL HAVE PART OR ALL OF THEIR ASSETS CONFISCATED.

ACCESSORIES SHALL BE SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT FROM ONE TO TEN YEARS.

THOSE WHO ARE FORCED OR DECEIVED INTO COMMITTING A CRIME SHALL BE SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT FROM ONE YEAR OR LESS, DEPENDING ON THE GRAVITY OF THE CRIME AND THEIR ATTITUDE OF REPENTANCE.

, Clause 1, Clause 2 Article 7a of this Regulation.

THOSE WHO COMMIT THE ABOVE CRIMES WITHOUT BEING DETECTED AND WHO VOLUNTARILY ADMIT THEIR CRIMES SHALL BE HANDLED MORE LENIENTLY OR ACQUITTED, DEPENDING ON THE GRAVITY OF THE CRIME AND THEIR ATTITUDE OF REPENTANCE.

Article 8

THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GRANTED PARDON BUT COMMIT A CRIME AGAIN SHALL BE SENTENCED MORE SEVERELY.

Article 9

THE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT AND DUTY TO REPORT THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED THE ABOVE CRIMES.

IN CASES OF CRIMES COMMITTED IN THE ACT, ANYONE HAS THE RIGHT AND DUTY TO ARREST AND IMMEDIATELY TURN THEM OVER TO THE RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY (RESISTANCE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE, POLICE, COURT, LAND DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE, PEASANT ASSOCIATION).

Article 10

THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PEASANT STRUGGLE COMMITTEE AT THE VILLAGE LEVEL HAS THE RIGHT TO ISSUE ORDERS TO RESTRICT AND MONITOR THE MOVEMENT OF THOSE WHO ARE REPORTED BY THE PEOPLE. IF NECESSARY, THE RESISTANCE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE DISTRICT WILL ISSUE AN ORDER TO ARREST THEM.

Article 11

IF THERE ARE CRIMES NOT SPECIFIED IN THIS DECREE, THEY SHALL BE HANDLED ACCORDING TO SIMILAR LAWS.

Article 12

ASSETS AND LAND CONFISCATED SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PEASANTS.

Article 13

A GOVERNMENT DECREE OF THE PRIME MINISTER WILL PROVIDE DETAILED GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

Article 14

THE PRIME MINISTER, THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR, THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, AND THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY SHALL IMPLEMENT THIS DECREE.